The EIFF launches the programme for next month’s festival, including a host of features and world premieres.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival has launched its much-anticipated line-up boasting 135 features from 33 countries and 23 world premieres. Recent Oscar-winner Kate Winslet is expected to inject some glamour to the proceedings, work schedule allowing, when she accompanies husband and director Sam Mendes, to the festival’s opening film, Away We Go.

Elsewhere, European lovely Vincent Cassel stars as Mesrine in the biopic of the infamous French gangster, also starring Ludivine Sagnier (see feature page 18). Also screening is Rudo y Cursi, reuniting Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna last seen in Y Tu Mama Tambien.

Film fans will have ample opportunity to get up close and personal with film talent such as Darren Aronofsky, director of The Wrestler, The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream and Pi, as part of the In Person interview series. Local Hero director Bill Forsyth, award-winning British actress Brenda Blethyn and veteran Hollywood director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Innerspace) will also appear.

A much-anticipated Roger Corman retrospective includes screenings of The Masque of the Red Death, The House of Usher, The Trip, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Wild Angels; the Peter McDougall strand includes screenings of A Sense of Freedom, Just A Boy’s Game and Just Another Saturday.

EIFF Artistic Director Hannah McGill said of this year’s programme: ‘I’m thrilled about this programme, and really looking forward to showing these films to our audience, as well as welcoming this wide array of exciting guests.’

Edinburgh International Film Festival runs from 17–28 Jun. Tickets are now on sale.